Though ownerless, the Phoenix Coyotes have shown signs of staying power

by Sarah McLellan - Sept. 2, 2012 06:26 PMazcentral sports

For three consecutive seasons, the Coyotes proved they could not only survive but overachieve as an underprivileged team.

Three playoff berths in a row, a division title and a trip to the Western Conference finals -- all without an owner, a competitive payroll and the selling point of security.

One season of playoffs might have been a fluke, two a coincidence. But three suggests staying power.

The real promise of this becoming the norm for the Coyotes came hours before they eliminated the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of Round 2.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, flanked by suitor Greg Jamison, announced a preliminary deal to sell the team to Jamison had been reached, and Bettman hoped the sale would close in weeks rather than months. And with that news, the shackles seemed to loosen.

Big-name free-agent signings could become a reality. Goalie Mike Smith could land a lucrative extension. Stability could join the lure of playing for coach Dave Tippett as brochure material. General Manager Don Maloney's desire to chase skill and talent in the off-season seemed to reinforce a new approach.

But nearly four months after Bettman hinted at change, everything is the same. The Coyotes didn't make any blockbuster acquisitions or re-up Smith. Their budget didn't swell, and their star power remains unaffected, unless captain Shane Doan decides to sign elsewhere. Then it drops.

So instead of grading this off-season against the scale of what could have been, it's best to stick with what has been. And in that regard, the Coyotes were again conservative -- but that style has led to three seasons of unexpected success.

"We're trying to fit the parts together and make sure we play a way that gives us the best chance to win," Tippett said.

Change could still come, and some is expected. According to capgeek.com, the Coyotes are roughly $9 million under the current cap floor (the minimum amount that teams are required to spend).

But what the cap floor will be once the season starts depends on how negotiations for a new collective-bargaining agreement proceed. In talks with the NHL Players' Association, the league has proposed a salary cap that would shrink to $58 million, undoubtedly pushing the Coyotes over a new floor.

The Coyotes are anticipating the addition of Doan's contract, but without an owner in place by the expiration of the current CBA on Sept. 15, the Coyotes could expect Doan will pick a new team. Doan has decided to sign before a potential lockout to avoid the uncertainty of a new labor agreement, and he's waited since becoming a free agent on July 1 in an attempt to give Jamison time to complete his bid.

"We hope to settle Doan," Tippett said. "That would be the one big one, obviously. Other than that, I don't foresee any other moves before camp."

If so, the roster features new forwards Steve Sullivan and David Moss. Winger Nick Johnson also is expected to compete for one of the 12 forward spots.

The Coyotes see Sullivan as a replacement for Ray Whitney, who left via free agency. There are similarities in age and stature, but Sullivan hasn't reached 70 points -- as Whitney did last year -- since 2001.

If Sullivan can spur on Radim Vrbata like Whitney did, the swap isn't so lopsided.

Moss and Johnson settle a hole on the right side of the lineup, likely filling out bottom-six roles. The re-signing of center Kyle Chipchura all but guarantees him the fourth-line center job vacated by Daymond Langkow.

The only other loss up front is Taylor Pyatt, who signed with the Rangers, but Moss should replace his production.

"I think certainly I can help this team, and hopefully they can take another step," Moss said.

The real grab of the summer came on defense. If the bundle of youth ready to become full-timers didn't make Michal Rozsival and Adrian Aucoin expendable, then the reacquisition of Zbynek Michalek did.

His presence gives the Coyotes arguably one of the deeper groups in the West. Add in a second year for Smith, and the Coyotes are poised to shine in their own end.

"Our defense is going to be a big part of our team, and that's been a real strength of ours," Tippett said.

While they weren't exactly able to snag the skill and talent for their forward group like they wanted, the Coyotes remained faithful to their style by adding players in Sullivan, Moss, Johnson and Michalek, who are responsible and eager for opportunity -- a winning combination under Tippett.

An even better defense might help compensate for the loss of Whitney and possibly Doan, but with strong systems play the Coyotes should continue to be competitive.

For three consecutive seasons, they haven't given a reason to believe otherwise.

"The last few years they've proven that if you play a good system and work hard and play a certain way and are coached well, you can go far -- and they have," Moss said.